Science Fair Project Encyclopedia for Schools!

The chrysanthemum, also known as the mum, is a flowering perennial plant of the genus Chrysanthemum in the daisy family (Asteraceae).

The genus has been split into several genera, such as Dendranthema , Leucanthemum and Tanacetum. But there is a growing consensus to merge back Dendranthema into Chrysanthemum.

History

Chrysanthemums were cultivated in China as a flowering herb as far back as the 15th century BCE. An ancient Chinese city was named Chu-Hsien , meaning "chrysanthemum city". The flower was introduced into Japan probably in the 8th century CE, and the Emperor adopted the flower as his official seal. There is a "Festival of Happiness" in Japan that celebrates the flower.

The flower was brought to the Western World in the 17th century. It was named by Carolus Linnaeus from the Greek prefix chrys-, which means golden (the colour of the original flowers), and -anthemon, meaning flower.

Ornamental uses

Modern chrysanthemums are much more showy than their ancient relatives. The flowers occur in various forms, and can be daisy-like, decorative, pompons or buttons. This genus contains many hybrids developed for horticultural purposes. In addition to the traditional yellow, other colours are available, such as white, purple, and red.

In some counties of Europe, chrysanthemums are symbolic of death and are only used for funerals or on graves. In the United States, the flower is usually seen as more positive and cheerful.

Food uses

Chrysanthemum coronarium

Chrysanthemum flowers are boiled to make a sweet drink in some parts of Asia. The resulting beverage is known simply as "chrysanthemum tea".

The leaves of several species are edible, and in particular C. coronarium (the crown daisy or garland chrysanthemum) is grown commercially in East Asia as a leaf vegetable, known as tung ho () or shingiku (Japanese: シンギク). In China, the greens are often stir-fried simply with garlic and dried chile peppers. The color of the cooked greens is dark, their texture dense and mucilaginous, and their flavour fragrant and complex.

See also

• Daisy
• Chrysanthemum Throne
• Persian powder

External link

• The National Chrysanthemum Society